Birdy

If you haven't become acquainted with her already, then meet Birdy. She is currently 15 years old, doesn't mind letting her braces show in her videos and has a voice to send chills along your spine. I am completely besotted with this girl, mostly because I feel like she is sincere. In an age where one of our most popular female indie artists is rumoured to have had both her sound and background story produced, has a look which is very much the product of a surgeons needle and stylists hard labour, I find the honestly of Birdy quiet enchanting. 

Born Jasmine van den Bogaerde, her stage name comes from a childhood nickname given by her parents; as a baby she held her mouth open like a bird waiting for food and the name stuck. Birdy won the British competition Open Mic UK 2008 at the tender age of 12 and by 14 had recorded a version of Bon Iver's  "Skinny Love" which rose to number 17 on the UK Singles Chart. If you're a Vampire Diaries fan you might familiar with her sound as she's had tracks featured on two episodes and she has a single called "Just A Game" on the Hunger Games Official Soundtrack too. Almost all of the songs on her current album are covers of tracks by other artists, but if you would like to hear a track written by Birdy herself be sure to listen to 'Without A Word" 

All videos from Birdy's Youtube channel OfficalBirdy, Image courtesy of  www.bpmtv.com

Chanel Monochromatics A/W 2012

Karl Lagerfeld was inspired by the age old beauty of crystals in their unaltered and natural state for this collection. This was used in everything from colour choices and the use of high tech textiles with holographic qualities, to his make up and set. 

There are so many details in this show that the more I looked at images taken there, the more I loved until I had too many for one post. So I've had to split them up. Here are the neutral based looks I particularly love. 

Antonia Wesseloh

Bette Franke

Georgia Himler

Heidi Mount and Hudson Kroenig

Sui He

Obsessed with this neckline.

Sigrid Agren

Isabella Melo

Jacquelyn Jablonski

Nadja Bender

What strikes me is the high contrast in texture; so many of which constantly go wrong in the retail environment. I find it inspiring to see that enlarged net, metallics, feathers, sparkly thread and sequins can be used without being tacky if the correct applications are utilised. The amount of detail and attention in every look is rather daunting considering there were over 60 ensembles. And the touch of a child on the ramp to thaw viewer's icy hearts after such a stark display is rather warming too. 

Goodies Wish List

I work with some really talented people, which makes my job amazing. One of them is Kelly, who is not only a Fashion Assistant at Marie Claire but also runs a online store called Goodies. Now I love the things Kelly wears on a daily basis so of course I wanted to see her new website; but now I want to spend money. Oops. Well here are some beautiful things I like a lot.

Lace Crop Top R150.00 with a rocking horse on it (!)

This orange pleated dress is only R450! So ladylike, bright and on trend. Big loves. 

These bags are R320 and come with the option of being an elegant clutch or an over the body. 

Cardigan with Bows, take me now. R350

The 90's Print scarf for just R120

Blue Scallop Dress R300

Dip Die Shorts. Lets go to a festival now R320

Animal Motif Shorts R250. I think they're chiffon. Yummy

Now that I've spent a hypothetical R2260 on eight items you can see the value! And they only bring in one or two items so now one else will have a rocking horse on their chest or dip die shorts like yours. 

"I'm gonna ear-mark this page in case your feeling spendy!" 

Fake Annas outside Oscar de la Renta

Taken on Day 6 of New York Fashion Week, 14 February 2012 outside the Oscar de la Renta show. These two are from Humor Chic, click here to see more from them. 

Holiday Through Fashion: Mulberry for Brighton Pier

Mulberry in Brighton, it's the best the pier has looked since the 1800's 

Now I feel like eating candy. The day after the chocolate fest that was Valentines Day. Great. 

Holiday Through Fashion: On a Boat in Chanel!

Shot by Karl Lagerfeld, modeled by Joan Smalls and Saskia de Brauw. I like the gymnast thing that's going on here. Models work hard and make the poses look easy in normal shoots, so it makes think about what these ladies went through to achieve these shots.

Our yacht is leaving for the French Riviera, all aboard! 

A Fashion Holiday: Mafia Families with Dolce and Gabbanna

The other day we were in Roma eating gelato as one does but now our tour bus has wound up on the Sicilian coastline. These images are so emotive; the scenery, movement and feeling, as well as local people in each shot speak volumes. I particularly love the one I dub 'lunch with the Mafia' posed on steps with dark expressions and matching outfits on all but one of our D&G girls in a sweet minty suit. 

And it looks like after you've caught a tan, a quick samba with the locals is in order before the sun sets. Another sip of limoncello anyone?

Ciao Bella!